Natives of Mexico (and now critically endangered there due to habitat loss), bamboo cycads don’t
look very much like most other cycads. They come from a deciduous cloud forest around San Luis Potosi and Quiretaro in eastern Mexico, between elevations of 2953-3937' (900-1200 m).
They are not found in the wild in the United States,
but they are fairly common in gardens.

Identification: These cycads grow up to 4' (1.2 m) high.
Male cones are up to 12" (30 cm) in length x 1½" (3.8 cm) around and yellowish brown; female cones are somewhat shorter and wider,
nearly cylindrical, and olive green. Each stem is up to 4' (1.2 m) long, with 20-50 leaflets. Each leaflet
is 4-10" (10-25 cm) long.